Box Score I Photo Gallery
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The top-ranked Stanford Cardinal scored once in the first half and again after the break to post a 2-0 win over the No. 23 Portland Pilots before a national television audience on Thursday night at Merlo Field. Teresa Noyola scored Stanford’s first goal on a PK in the 40th minute, while Kristy Zurmuhlen added the insurance goal in the 74th.
Danielle Foxhoven had the best look of the night for the Pilots (3-4-1), who were held to just two shots overall. Late in the first half, Taylor Brooke fed Foxhoven just inside the top right corner of the box. Foxhoven took a touch before cracking a shot that was saved by Emily Oliver, Stanford’s keeper.
The Cardinal (7-0-1) controlled the run of play for much of the first half, but the UP defense held Stanford out of the goal for the first 39 minutes. That’s when Stanford was awarded the penalty kick after Noyola was taken down inside the 18-yard box. Noyola capitalized by scoring inside the left post.
Possession was a bit more even in the second half, but UP was able to muster just one shot. It came on a header from Kassi McCluskie on a corner kick in the 62nd minute, which was sent in by Michelle Cruz. Again Oliver made the save.
12 minutes later, Zurmuhlen scored on a world class goal from about 20 yards out that gave the Cardinal a 2-nil advantage. Noyola got the assist after Zurmuhlen buried a strike into the top left corner of the frame.
Stanford finished with 15 shots, while UP goalkeeper Hailee DeYoung registered eight saves. The Cardinal had five corner kicks to Portland’s one.
The Pilots now get two days off before welcoming the USC Trojans to Merlo Field for a 1 p.m. tilt on Sunday.
Thursday’s game, which was the first of three Portland games scheduled for national television this season, was broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel. UP’s game at BYU on Oct. 6 will also be shown on Fox Soccer Channel, while ESPNU will broadcast Portland’s home match against Santa Clara on Oct. 21.
